Do Rastas go to funerals?

Within Rastafari there is no death, that's one of the key things. They are spiritual beings having a physical experience, so within that there is no death. As a Rasta, in days of old, and still in some cases today, when you go to a funeral, you then cut your dreads.

What do Rastas do when someone dies?

1. Rastafarians have a deep love of God and believe that where people are, God is present, therefore the family may pray around the bedside of the dying member. 2. There are no rites or rituals before and after death.

Do Rastafarians believe in an afterlife?

Rastas do not believe that there is a specific afterlife to which individuals go following bodily death. They believe in the possibility of eternal life, and that only those who shun righteousness will actually die.

What are Rastafarians not allowed to do?

They consider their body to be a temple, based on the Old Testament teachings. Rastas do not drink alcohol or eat food that is not nourishing to their body, which includes meat. Many follow a strict dietary law called ital, which states that all food must be completely natural and raw.

What do Jamaicans do when someone dies?

Rather than a traditional wake with mourning, the Jamaican culture celebrates the deceased through Nine-Night, also known as Dead Yard or Set-up. It's a celebration on the ninth night after the deceased has passed away with food, white rum, dancing, music, and sharing stories.

rakimono funeral service that brought all the rasta farai together

What are Jamaican funerals like?

Thanks to new embalming technology, most Jamaican families today wait at least nine days to begin their funeral service. The family hosts nine night in the home of the deceased person. It typically begins at 8 pm on the 9th night after his or her death. The celebration begins with hymns and prayers.

What is a funeral called in Jamaica?

A glimpse at this interesting funeral rite

Similar to the concept of a wake, in Jamaica (and other parts of the Caribbean), there is a funerary tradition known as the “Nine Nights,” or “Nine-Night,” in which the family and friends of a person who has died gather to celebrate the life of their loved one.

Why do Rastas say I and I?

I and I means that God is within all men. The bond of Ras Tafari is the bond of God, of man." The term is often used in place of "you and I" or "we" among Rastafari, implying that both persons are united under the love of Jah.

How do you greet a Rastafarian?

In Rastafarian, you would greet a friend on the street by saying “Bredren, wa gwaan?” The other Rasta may respond with: “Bwai, ya done know seh mi deya gwaan easy." This means: “"I'm here just taking it easy."

Do Rastafarians get tattoos?

Although it is possible to be a 'cleanface, baldhead' Rasta, most Rastafarians follow the Nazarites in that they do not use combs or razors (hence beard and dreadlocks) and do not practise any sort of body piercing or tattooing.

What is the Rastafarian Bible called?

The Jah International Version is a revision of the King James Version, which has a long history of use in Rastafari. The JIV restores the name of God JAH in both the Old and New Testaments.

What do Rastafarians call God?

Today, Haile Selassie is worshipped as God incarnate among followers of the Rastafari movement (taken from Haile Selassie's pre-imperial name Ras—meaning Head, a title equivalent to Duke—Tafari Makonnen), which emerged in Jamaica during the 1930s under the influence of Marcus Garvey's "Pan Africanism" movement.

What God do Rastafarians pray to?

Rastafarians regard Haile Selassie I as God because Marcus Garvey's prophecy - "Look to Africa where a black king shall be crowned, he shall be the Redeemer" - was swiftly followed by the ascension of Haile Selassie as Emperor of Ethiopia. Haile Selassie I is regarded by Rastafarians as the God of the Black race.

What are female Rastas called?

The role of Rastafarian women, who are called Queens, and the rules that apply specifically to women.

Do Rastas have their own Bible?

The Holy Bible is the most important book in Rastafari. This special edition Bible includes the Old and New Testament with corrections made to the King James Version. The books of Enoch, Jubilees, and the Kebra Nagast are also included, all sacred books in the Ethiopian Biblical Canon.

Do Rastafarians accept blood transfusions?

ORGAN DONATION/TRANSPLANT - These will be intensely disliked by most Rastafarians in the belief that they interfere with God's plan for mankind. BLOOD TRANSFUSION - The fear of contamination of the body would influence the attitude to transfusion. Reassurance may be needed.

How do Jamaicans say I love you?

Boonoonoonoos is a Jamaican saying to express love.

How do you respond to Wah Gwan?

It is used throughout the Jamaican diaspora, including in hip-hop culture and by reggae music fans. The standard response is nagwan / nuttin nah gwaan (“nothing is going on”).

What are the rules of being a Rasta?

Rastafari “livity,” or the principle of balanced lifestyle, includes the wearing of long hair locked in its natural, uncombed state, dressing in the colours of red, green, gold, and black (which symbolize the life force of blood, herbs, royalty, and Africanness), and eating an “I-tal” (natural, vegetarian) diet.

How do Rastas get married?

Marriage. In Rastafari there is no formal marriage structure. A Rastafari man and woman who live together are regarded as husband and wife (unless, of course, they are related in some other way, such as mother and son). If marriage does take place it is regarded as a social occasion rather than a religious event.

Why do Jamaicans say blood clot?

The true meaning of the word Bloodclot, when used in Jamaica, came from blood cloth, but when Jamaicans say cloth it comes out as clot. A blood cloth is a feminine hygiene product. So in essence, when the word is used in anger towards someone, you're basically calling them a tampon.

What is the prayer Rastas say before smoking?

The marijuana is usually smoked in a pipe (or “chalice”) and a short prayer is always recited before it is smoked: “Glory be to the father and to the maker of creation. As it was in the beginning is now and ever shall be World without end.”

Why do Jamaicans have 9 nights?

Nine night is a separate event to the funeral itself. It's like the Irish wake and takes place nine days after the death of the person. You have a celebration of their life at the point at which their spirit traditionally leaves the body. It's a Jamaican practice with roots in an African tradition.

What is goodbye in Jamaica?

'Inna di morrows'

Used when saying goodbye. The literal translation would be 'In the tomorrows', meaning 'see you later'.

What does 9 days after death mean?

According to ancient beliefs, the deceased's soul stays on Earth for up to 9 days after the death. During this time, the family gathers for prayers and a celebratory meal in honor of the deceased.